Recently I happened to be in the market for a baby monitor, so I decided to search Amazon for an affordable device that would fit my needs. A search for “baby monitor” within the “electronics” department brought me to the LeFun WiFi Camera. For $39.99 (at the time of my purchase), this seemed like it could be a good deal. Knowing the reputation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, I was curious about its security. This was addressed in the product description with the guarantee that when I connect to any device, it will be via a “secure and safe network” and will be secured with “financial-level encryption.” It also boasts that they are “CE, FCC, and RoHS certified,” which is good, despite those certifications only dealing with safety and not information security.

Recently, a popular online retailer revealed a month-long data breach. Card-skimming code was found capturing customer credit card data from the payment page of its website and sending that data to what appeared to be a legitimate server (with a similar domain name and a valid HTTPS certificate). The company has not yet determined which customer accounts may have been affected, so the extent of the damage is yet to be determined.

I have been involved in a number of healthcare penetration tests here at Coalfire and in my previous roles. I have hacked electronic medical records, medical devices, and most importantly, humans. From my time as a systems engineer at a medical device and systems vendor to my current role at Coalfire as a penetration tester, I have seen a few healthcare organizations grow from highly insecure to cyber-fortresses. In this blog, I will highlight the most common issues my teammates and I come across while penetration testing healthcare environments.

On September 24, I was pleased to represent Coalfire (and private-sector expertise) by attending the kickoff for the Privacy Framework at the Brookings Institute in Washington, D.C. The event was attended by notable leaders in the industry and government: The Departments of Transportation and Commerce, the Information Technology Industry Council, Intel, Citrix, National Telecommunications, and various other notable public and private-sector leaders in the industry. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is taking steps toward pulling the various, splintered privacy initiatives in our nation together into a focused approach – and it is very exciting to see.

At the SplunkLive! Conference in Washington, D.C., Splunk gave a presentation on Phantom, a Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) system. Splunk acquired Phantom this year for $350 million.

About

Coalfire Certificate Program

A Coalfire Certificate is proof-positive that information technology controls have been independently scanned, assessed or validated in accordance with the highest industry standards. Certificates can be displayed on websites or in print.

Coalfire started in 2001 with a simple idea – cyber threats are increasing, compliance mandates are getting more complicated, and a well-designed cybersecurity program can help fuel your overall success.

Coalfire helps organizations comply with global financial, government, industry and healthcare mandates while helping build the IT infrastructure and security systems that will protect their business from security breaches and data theft. The company is a leading provider of IT advisory services for security in retail, payments, healthcare, financial services, higher education, hospitality, government and utilities.

The Coalfire Board of Directors provides invaluable guidance for the organization and reflects Coalfire’s dedication to achieving success for our customers.

Coalfire’s executive leadership team comprises some of the most knowledgeable professionals in cybersecurity, representing many decades of experience leading and developing teams to outperform in meeting the security challenges of commercial and government clients. With diverse backgrounds in IT systems security, governmental security, compliance, and reducing risk while implementing the latest enabling technologies (such as the Cloud and IoT), our leaders understand the challenges customers face.

With a passion for quality, Coalfire uses a process-driven quality approach to improve the customer experience and deliver unparalleled results.

Created in honor of the late co-founder of Coalfire, the Richard E. Dakin Fund at The Denver Foundation is supporting scholarship programs at several universities for promising college students studying cybersecurity and related fields.

Security is a team game. If your organization values both independence and security, perhaps we should become partners.

The increased need for cyber security has become a common enterprise priority across the globe. However, industry requirements for effective cyber risk management are as distinct as the individual entities under fire. Enterprises and government organizations need more than an off-the-shelf audit to provide an effective threat assessment. They need industry- and organization-specific insights, tools and processes to protect digital assets and ensure compliance.

Coalfire can help cloud service providers prioritize the cyber risks to the company, and find the right cyber risk management and compliance efforts that keeps customer data secure, and helps differentiate products.

“Success” at a government entity looks different than at a commercial organization. Create cybersecurity solutions to support your mission goals with a team that understands your unique requirements.

The financial services industry was built upon security and privacy. As cyber-attacks become more sophisticated, a strong vault and a guard at the door won’t offer any protection against phishing, DDoS attacks and IT infrastructure breaches.

The continuum of care is a concept involving an integrated system of care that guides and tracks patients over time through a comprehensive array of health services spanning all levels of care. Interoperability is the central idea to this care continuum making it possible to have the right information at the right time for the right people to make the right decisions.

Maintaining network and data security in any large organization is a major challenge for information systems departments. However, in the higher education environment, the protection of IT assets and sensitive information must be balanced with the need for ‘openness’ and academic freedom; making this a more difficult and complex task.

When it comes to cyber threats, the hospitality industry is not a friendly place. Hotels and resorts have proven to be a favorite target for cyber criminals who are looking for high transaction volume, large databases and low barriers to entry.

The payments industry is undergoing rapid changes and unfortunately, an increasing risk for data breaches. Cyber criminals are growing increasingly businesslike, and payments leaders need to move quickly to cover their cyber risk.

The food and beverage industry is under attack from cyber criminals intent on stealing payment information. The food and beverage industry makes up the highest percentage of breach investigations, at nearly 73 percent, according to Visa.

The global retail industry has become the top target for cyber terrorists, and the impact of this onslaught has been staggering to merchants. To secure the complex IT infrastructure of a retail environment, merchants must embrace enterprise-wide cyber risk management practices that reduces risk, minimizes costs and provides security to their customers and their bottom line.

Private enterprises serving government and state agencies need to be upheld to the same information management practices and standards as the organizations they serve. Coalfire has over 16 years of experience helping companies navigate increasing complex governance and risk standards for public institutions and their IT vendors.

Technology innovations are enabling new methods for corporations and governments to operate and driving changes in consumer behavior. The companies delivering these technology products are facilitating business transformation that provides new operating models, increased efficiency and engagement with consumers as businesses seek a competitive advantage.

Cybersecurity has entered the list of the top five concerns for U.S. electric utilities, and with good reason. According to the Department of Homeland Security, attacks on the utilities industry are rising "at an alarming rate."

Cyber risk management, advisory, technology and compliance services. Manage risk and maximize return on investment to prevent data breaches and theft. Coalfire’s solutions are led by a team of industry experts that help enterprise organizations understand a wide range of compliance and risk management initiatives, which enables a consistent cybersecurity framework across the organization.

Expert assessments that provide an accurate understanding of what you are trying to protect, the inherent and residual cyber risk to your enterprise and the maturity of the your security program and underlying controls